Women's and mixed padel: tournaments, partners, tips
By the EsoPadel team · updated on October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
FFT-sanctioned padel tournaments have three draws: Men, Women and Mixed. Women's tournaments bring together pairs of two women; mixed tournaments, pairs of one woman and one man. They follow the same categories (P25 to P2000) and award ranking points: mixed tournaments count in both the women's and the men's rankings. The hardest part is often finding a partner at your level who is free on the right date.
Women's tournaments
Women's padel is growing, but women's tournaments are fewer than men's, and they sometimes struggle to fill up in the regions. As a result: - you sometimes have to travel a little to find a tournament in your category; - registering your pair early avoids bad surprises; - a tournament cancelled for lack of teams does happen: check its status before you leave. The tournament calendar lets you filter by draw (Men, Women, Mixed) and by category.
Mixed tournaments
In mixed doubles, each pair has one woman and one man. It is a very friendly format, often offered at club tournaments or at the end of the season. The pair's level rests on both players: a good balance between them matters as much as each one's level.
Playing well in mixed doubles
- Share the roles: often, the stronger smasher plays on the left, but it is not a rule. See Playing left or right. - Play down the middle: balls between the two opponents create hesitation. - Do not always target the same person: opponents expect it, and it breaks your own pair's rhythm. - Communicate: call "mine" or "yours" on balls in the middle and on lobs. - Trust your partner: taking every ball wears you out and disorganises the pair.
Finding a partner
This is where many players get stuck. A few solutions: 1. The club: talk to the front desk and the coaches, check the noticeboard or the club group. 2. Tournament ads on EsoPadel: from a tournament's page, post a "Looking for a partner" ad. Players at your level near you can reply, and you chat with them in the messaging. 3. Player discovery: choose "For a tournament" to see available players at your level to play with. Your profile shows your preferred side, which helps form a complementary pair. See also our guide Finding a padel partner.
Choosing your category
For a first women's or mixed tournament, a P25 or P50 is a good start. To understand the categories, read Padel tournament categories. Remember your FFT licence: it is mandatory for all sanctioned tournaments (see FFT licence).
Frequently asked questions
Do mixed tournaments count for the FFT ranking? Yes: mixed events count in both the women's and the men's rankings. Can a woman play a men's tournament? Some men's tournaments also accept women: this is stated in the tournament rules. How do I find a partner for a women's tournament? Post an ad on the tournament's page on EsoPadel, or ask at your club. Players at your level near you can reply. Which category for a first mixed tournament? A P25 or P50, to discover competition in good conditions.